Windshield cleaner



Ju 25, 1929 I c, H.. QuAcKEN'Busl-l WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Oct. 23, 1926 TRNE Y *l Il "Il Wdmlim llliwdllllll.

application ed october-ttt, that.,

llhis invention relates to improvements in automobile vrind-shield cleaners..

"llhe automatic and hand-operated vvindshield cleaners novv on the marlret are all provided with a vviper 'element' vvhich is mounted upon the operating shalt and which is arranged so as to engage the outside ol the vrind-shield to clean vthe same by itsv wiping actiono 'lhe operating shalt entends lll through the lrarne yust above the vrindshield and is either driven by an automatic device or is manipulated by a hand lever. 'lhe vviper elements ol the, various vrindshield cleaners are mounted upon the operating shalt in diilerent manners, but in all cases it is necessary that the wiper maintain a certain an ular position with respect to its operating s alt so as to alvva s cover substantially the same extent ol surlace area on both sides ol the vertical plane through the operating shalt..v 'llhat is, the area covered by the vviper, when .operating in a normal manner, is symmetrical with respect to the operating shalt above relerred to.. lt is necessary also that the vviper maintain proper en a ement with the surlace ol the windshield in order to clean the same.

. llovv, it is common practice ol the average laborer vvho vvashes automobiles, to turn the vvi er upvvardly so as to be out ol the vvay vviilevvashing the outside ol the windshield, uch' turning or twisting ol the vvi er results, in some cases, in this element being displaced about its operating shalt,

'l5' and hence the proper angular relation ol the wiper to the. shaft, as aboveeferred to, is destroyed. lt then becomes necessary to restore the proper adjustment. Such turning or twistlng of the VWiper element, `which is ol comparatively frail construction, moreover very often means a distortion of the same so vas to require frequent straightening or rta-adjustment, all of which means an undue tax upon its durability. Furthermore, i any attempt to clean the cleaning edge'v of the wiper will tend to disturb its normal engagement with the Wind-shield, as will also the attempt of the carelesslaborer to,A turn the wiper up beyond the wind-shield and over l@ the frame ol the same so as to get it out of the way, asI above explained. .Y v

It is, therefore, the object ofthe resent invention to provide a -means where y lull )and free access maybe had tothe wind- 'shield to`wash the same, without any interference by the wiper and withoutdestroying ller-tal lilo.. lttfltt the proper anlar relation ol the vvi erv to its operating "l i alt and lurthermore thout causing any distortion or other injury to the vvrper,

fl .lurther object olf this invention is to provide suoli a means whereby the vviping edge ol the vviper element may be conveniently cleaned vvithout destroying its proper normal installation vvith respect to the surn lace ol the wind-shield.,

llelerring to the accompanying drawing, l is a lront elevation olmy improved device installed upon an automobile; and

lllig. Q is a detail vievv talren on line 5ft-d ol l..

The operating shalt vvhich entende through the lrame l is indicated by relerence numeral 2, and is operated either by a hand lever or by an automatic motive means, as are vvell lrnown in the trade. 'lhe glass ol the wind-shield is indicated by relerence numeral 3. lUpon the shalt Q, there is secured a mounting t to which the vviper element is, accord-- ing to the prior structures, directly oonnected. I'lhe vviperelement may be con sidered as comprising the cleanin strip 5 ol rubber, the holder o therelor, tie clama l, and the light gauge rod or vvire d nfhic is, in the prior devices, connected to the mounting lor directly to the shalt n. e particular lorni ol connection here shovvn between the mounting land shalt Q, may' be recognised as part ol a well-lmovvn windn shield cleaner now on the marlret..

ln the present case, l have provided a pivotal connection between the mounting 4 and the holder 9 in which the wire 8 is secured,I As clearly indicated in the drawing, the lower end ol the mounting or connector element 4 is formed as a clevis into which the upper end of holder 9 lits, with a pivotal connection therebetween as indicated by `reference numeral 10. The holder 9 has its inner and top sides fuared, as shown in, Fig. 2, so as to be engag .by the leaf spring 11 which is mounted upon the'inner face of the mount- .ing or connector element 4'. The sprin 11 engaging the inner squared side of the ho der 9, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, serves to hold the cleanin strip 5 in proper contactual engagement wit the glass 3; As here shown, thespring engages the inner side of the holder at a point somewhat above a horizontal line through thepivotal axis 10 so asfto ensure such engagementof strip 5, as just referred to. The mounting or connector eledll` dll

loo

shaft 2 that the cleaning strip 5 will engage the glass with the proper degree of force.

the

ing means, and a cleaning element pivotally Then, when itis desired to wash the glass 3, the holder with 'the wire 8 and the other parts carried therebycan be turned on` axis 10 so as to assume dotted line position at 90 to full line position. With the wiping elementhoccu ying substantially hoizontal position, oes not interfere with the' washing of the glass 3 and at the same time there is afforded an op ortunity to clean the wiping edge of the rub er strip 5. Although` spring 11 engages theupper part of holder 9, yet, the wiping element will be substantia ly horizontal when turned to dotted line position. At an rate, the wiper element will, in one position, bear with effective pressure upon the glass and in the other position, wil extend at a substantial angle to 'the glass so as to be out of the way. After washing the glass 3, the WiperY element may be turned back through 90 so as to occupy its original position in contact with the glass, as shown in full lines.-

My improved wiper element, together with the mounting orconnector element 4, may be sold to the individual automobile owner and installed as art of anyI of the prior forms of wind-s 'eld cleaners, the

mounting or connector element 4 being constructed in various forms at its upper end sov as to be adapted for attachment to any of the operating shafts of the various types of windishield cleaners.,`

The advantages resulting from myv improved form of-wind-shield cleaner, as above set forth, will be obvious to any one who is familiar with the art. In addition to those valready referred to, it is especially useful in the more arid sectionsof country where the wind-shield cleaner is idle for the greater part of the time. With my device, it is possible to keep the rubber strip away from the glass during the prolonged periods of idleness and in this way prevent the vcurling of the edge of the strip which would otherwise result from lass.

at I claim as new is: 1. In a windshield cleaner, a connector element, adapted for connection vto an operat- 'mounted upon said .connector element, the

f axis of the pivotalconnectin therebetween" v eo. beh? substantially arallelwith the plane `of t e thereby permitting the cleaning element tou swung away vfrom the windshield so` as.

e .mjgiford full vand access thereto for washwindshield w en installed therewith,

the Same, one .of said elements having an its continued pressure against tain the said elements insubstantial alignment with each other for operative engagement of the cleaning element with the windshield.

2. In a windshield cleaner, a connector element, adapted for-connection to an operating means, and a cleaning element pivotally mounted upon said connector element, the axis of the pivotal connection therebetween being substantially parallel with thc plane of the windshield when installed therewith,

thereby permitting the cleaning element to be swung away from the windshield so as to afford full and free access thereto for washing the same, one of said elements having squared portions forming an angular body about the axis of pivotal connection between said elements, and the otherof said elements having a leaf spring extendin substantially parallel with the windshiel and adapted to engage one of said squared portions so as to maintain said elements in substantial alignment with each other for operative engagement of the cleaning element with the windshield, and said spring bein adapted to engage'another of said square portions so as to temporarily maintain said elements at a substantial angle with respect to each other. j.,

3. In a windshield cleaner, a connector element, adapted to be connected to an operating means, and a cleaning element pivotally portions spaced about the axis of pivotal connection, and said other element having spring ymeans for engagement with said `engageable portions, said parts being so constructed and arranged that said s rin means will effectively engage one o said engageable portions so as to hldsaid ivotally connected elements in substantial a ignment with each other for operative engagement of the cleaning element with the windshield, and said spring meanswill effectively another` of said engageable portions when the 'cleaning element occupies angular relation to said .other element so as to eprmit full and free access to the windshi for washing the same. a

4. In a. windshield cleaner, the combination of a wiper element, operating means therefor, a pivotal connection between said wiper element and operating means whereby the wiper element may be temporarily moved away from the windshield without disturbles `elements having a plurality of engageable lll ing the normal operative connection of the wlper element, said operating means being substantially outside the area of the windshield, so as to permit full and free access to the Windshield for washing the same when the wiper element is in temporary position, and means associated with said pivotal connection for maintaining the wiper clement in its operative and temporary positions.

5. In a windshield cleaner, the combination of a wiper element, operating means therefor, a pivotal connection between said wiper element and operating means whereby the wiper element may be temporarily moved away from the windshield without disturbing the normal operative connection of the Wiper element, said operating means being substantaially outside the area of the windshield, so as to permit full and free access to the Windshield for washing the same when the wiper element is in temporary position, and spring means associated with said pivotal connection for maintaining the wiper ele- .ment 1n 1ts operative and temporary positions. Y

'In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

CLEVELAND H. QUACKENBUSH. 

